A group of students playing various kinds of string instruments with their teacher.

If you ask Holyoke’s string teacher Adrienne Wade which of the past 17 years as a string teacher in Holyoke is her favorite, she will simply say this: “This year is my favorite!” But if you asked her last year—or any other year—she would have said the same thing.

“Every year is my favorite year for strings,” she explained during a recent video podcast produced by five music students at Sullivan School where they shared their experiences playing cello and violin. They had lots to say! This 12-minute video begins with a short performance that showcases the students’ musical talents, followed by a discussion of their favorite reasons to play musical instruments and their recommendations for students who might want to learn to play in the future.